Roundabout



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(No Model.)

J. L. BUFORD.

ROUNDABOUT.

No. 483,530. Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. L. BUFORD.

ROUNDABOUI'.

No. 483,530. Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a. J. L. BUFO' RD. ROUNDABOUT. No. 483,530. Patented Oct. 4,1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEFFERSON L. BUFORD, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

ROUNDABOUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,530, dated October 4, 1892.

Application filed September 22, 1891. Serial No. 406,435- (No model.)

To (21% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON L. BUFORD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roundabouts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements 1n that class of devices for public amusements popularly known as roundabouts, and more particularly to those which are used for 1nstruction as well as pleasure.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus with figures or bodies representing the earth and other planets designed to revolve and illustrate the positions and movements of the earth and the other planets.

With these ends in view my invention contemplates the use of a primary platform mounted on wheels adapted to travel on a track or tracks and revolve about a central axis, and on this primary platform are one or more auxiliary or supplemental platforms also mounted to travel on a track, and globes representing the earth are fixed on these smaller platforms and turn with them. Seats for the public are placed on the auxiliary platforms, near the globes representing the earth, on which the audience can be seated, and the seats revolve with the auxiliary platforms when the machine is in motion. In the center of the primary platform is an upright spindle, on which is fitted a hollow or tubular shaft, which carries an illuminated globe to represent the planet Venus. Another illuminated globe is loosely secured on this tubular shaft below the upper globe, which represents the sun. The tubular shaft is operated by suitable gearing actuated by the power used to run the machine and is adapted to revolve at aproper rate of speed and cause the globe representing Venus to move around the sun. In each of the globes representing the earth on the auxiliary platforms are upright spindles, which pass freely through sleeves in the globes, and to the upper end of each spindle is secured an arm, which supports reflecting-globes representing the quarters of the moon. The central spindle in the main platform is connected by the intermediate gearing with the series of spindles in the globes representing the earth, and the smaller platforms are also connected with the larger platform in such a manner that the proper relative rate of speed will be maintained throughout, and the representations of the different planets and the earth assume their proper motions with relation to each other.

The machine may be operated by any suitable power, as by an electric motor, horsepower, or steam-power, and the power may be communicated to the machine in any desired manner.

To enable others to more readily understand my invention, I have illustratedthe samein the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure I is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. II is an enlarged top plan View of a portion of the machine with the primary platform removed and the auxiliary platforms indicated by dotted lines, and Fig. III is a sectional elevation taken on the lineoaw of Fig. I.

Referring to the drawings, Adesignates the primary platform, which is preferably circular in form and is constructed and braced in a substantial manner, a detailed description of which is unnecessary. The primary platform is pivotally supported at its center on a base B, and near its outer edge or periphery it is provided at suitable intervals with rollers a, which run on a circular track a, rigid 011 the foundation. \Vithin this track a is a toothed circular rack 12, and a series of gears I), carried by shafts journaled on the platform A, engages with said rack as the platform is rotated and imparts motion to the other parts of the machine.

Extending upward from the baseB is a vertical spindle C, which passes centrally through the primary platform, and on the spindle is fitted a vertical tubular shaft 0. On the upper end of this tubular shaft 0 is adjustably secured, by means of a set-screw c, an arm D, which projects outwardly a suitable distance and carries an illuminated globe d to represent Venus. Below this globe dis another illuminated globe E, representing the sun, which is loosely, fitted on the tubular shaft 0 and is supported in position by a collar and set-screw e, secured on the sleeve.

Rigidly secured on an arbor cl is a stationary gear-Wheel F, which engages with one of a series of idle-gears f f. A vertical shaft G is secured rigidly in the idle-gearf next to' the stationary wheel F, and it projects slightly above the platform A and carries another gear 9. This latter gear 9 engages with an idle-gear g, carried by a shaft suitably mounted on the platform, and this idle-gear meshes with a fast gear 9 on the lower end of the tubular shaft 0. it will be readily seen that as the train of gears f f mesh with the stationary gear F the motion of the main platform sets the idlegearsfin motion and turns the hollow shaft 0 through the medium of the gears g g g" and the shaft GE. These gears are so proportioned as to cause the globe representing Venus to revolve at a proper speed with relation to the other parts of the machine.

On the main platform A are arranged at suitable intervals the smaller auxiliary platforms IL I prefer to use four of these smaller plat forms, as shown in Fig. I; but the number may be varied, as desired. These smaller platforms each move around vertical pivots, and they are provided with rollers h, arranged to run on circular tracks 72/ on the mainplatform. Projecting upward through the main platform and the center of each smaller platform is a series of sleeves or hollow shafts I, and a spindle J extends entirely through each \a hollow shaft and carries an adj ustable arm' j, which "supports'a reflecting globe j, designed to represent the moon. The lower end of the spindle J is rigidly secured to the outer idle-wheel f, and the globe representing the moon therefore revolves with the globes representing the sun and Venus. On the lower end of the hollow shaft I is secured a miter-gear 2', which meshes with a similar gear t" on the horizontal shaft t'", which also carries the gear-wheel b. Rigidly secured on the hollow sleeves I are large globes K, which represent the earth, and they revolve with the smaller platforms and the larger platform through the intermediate gearing before described. Seats are provided on the smaller platforms around the globes representing the earth, on which the audience can be seated.

The whole machine is operated by horsepower, steam-power, an electric motor, or in any desirable manner. The revolution of the main platform turns the smaller platforms and the globes representing the planets. In this connection I weuld have it understood that I do not limit myself to the number of planets and globes, but may increase or diminish the number at pleasure.

This machine affords pleasant and instructive amusement, as it combines with the ordinary pleasures of a roundabout an interesting lesson in the movements of the earth and By this arrangementofparts the planets at different times during the day and night throughout the space of one year.

A complete revolution of the main platform represents a year, and the globes representing the earth turn around, presenting different sides to the sun to represent day and night. The globes representing the sun and Venus are lighted in a suitable manner, preferably by electricity, and, as described, they revolve to assume their proper positions with relation to the sun and earth.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and details of construction can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a roundabout, the combination, with a primary platform, of a series of auxiliary platforms mounted thereon and each carrying a globe and one or more seats, a hollow shaft rigid with each auxiliary platform and adapted to be rotated by gearing which meshes with a rack, a central shaft in the primary platform, carrying one or more globes, and independent gearing for rotating the central shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a roundabout, the combination, with a primary platform adapted to revolve on a central base, the auxiliary platforms rigid with the hollow shaft I, extending up through the platforms and carrying the globes K, rep- 7 resenting the earth, the rollers 71, carried by the auxiliary platforms and adapted to revolve on circular tracks h on the primary platform, the seats 70, arranged around the globes, the circular rack 12, the gear-wheels v on the lower ends of the hollow shafts I, and gearing intermediate of said rack and gear to rotate the latter and the auxiliary platforms as the primary platform revolves, of the spindles J, the arms j, carrying globes j, secured on said spindles, the stationary gear F and IIO the train of gears f, meshing with said stationary gear, the outer gears of which are rigid on the spindles J to rotate the latter as the primary platform turns, the central shaft 0, carrying a globe E, the arm D, carrying a globe d, and means for rotating said shaft and globes, substantially as described.

3. In a roundabout, the combination of the circular track, the primary platform supported on a central base B and having rollers to run on said track, the auxiliary platforms carried by the main platform and supporting globes, the spindles extending through said platforms and globes and having gears on their lewer ends, a circular rack arranged concentric with the track beneath the primary platform, and gears carried by the primary platform and engaging with said rack and the gears on the spindles to rotate the latter and the auxiliary platforms and globes as the primary platform is revolved, substantially as described.

4. In a roundabout, the combination, with a base, of a primary platform supported on said base, a spindle 0, extending through the center of said platform, a tubular shaft fitted on said spindle, an arm secured on said shaft and carrying a globe on its end, a stationary gear on the base, the idle-gears f, meshing with said stationary gear, a vertical shaft G, secured rigidly to one gear f and extending above the primary platform, and gearing intermediate of said shaft and the tubular shaft to rotate the latter, substantially as described.

5. In a roundabout, the combination, with a base, of a primary platform supported there on, the auxiliary platforms arranged on said primary platform and carrying globes, the hollow shafts I, extendingthrough said auxiliary platforms and globes, a circular rack arranged beneath the primary platform, the gears 12', carried by said platform and adapted to impart motion to the hollow shafts I and plat- 

